He Gambled Away Our Bonding Ceremony and Now He’s Begging for It Back Chapter 03

He Gambled Away Our Bonding Ceremony and Now He’s Begging for It Back Chapter 03

Aldric answered like it was obvious.

“That money was always meant for the ceremony.”

“The ceremony’s still happening. The money wasn’t wasted.”

Bianca leaned against him and tilted her hand, letting the ring catch the light.

“Iris. Didn’t you just say I could have the ceremony?”

“If you gave it to me, the cost is included.”

Watching them trade lines, my anger just drained away.

They’d turned my ceremony into a bet. Emptied my savings. Let Bianca have the full bride experience with my fated mate.

What was I keeping this mate for?

I faced Aldric and forced the words out. “I, Iris Hart, reject you as my mate.”

I stepped off the platform. Aldric’s roar followed me.

“You don’t get to reject me!”

“I reject your rejection.”

I didn’t acknowledge him. My mother pushed through the crowd and grabbed my hand.

“Sweetheart. What’s happening?”

My parents had been seated at the table closest to the door. The only family I was allowed.

My parents come from a small, remote pack.

The rest of our relatives wanted to attend. Mrs. Whitmore said they wouldn’t know how to behave. They’d embarrass the Whitmore Clan.

Aldric said, “We’ll just do a small ceremony at your place later. No need for so many people.”

So my parents rode a bus for over ten hours. Alone. To watch their daughter’s bonding ceremony.

My mother’s dark blue dress didn’t quite fit. She’d altered the waistline herself, stitch by stitch.

My father’s father-of-the-bride corsage was crushed and bent. He still hadn’t taken it off.

They knew I was reaching above my station marrying into the Whitmore Clan. They didn’t understand the Moon Goddess’s ways.

They chose to defer. To endure the Whitmore arrogance in silence.

Until they saw Bianca in my wedding dress. Wearing my ring.

My father walked up to Aldric.

“Take that ring off. Apologize to my daughter.”

Aldric’s face tightened.

“Sir. It was just a bet. Bianca is standing in for Iris. After this, the Elder Hall records will still show Iris and me.”

My father stared for several seconds.

“You’re bonding with her. But my daughter gets the paperwork?”

“Then what is my daughter to you?”

Aldric frowned.

“We’ve always been like this. Iris never minded before.”

My mother was shaking.

“She didn’t mind? So you just kept hurting her?”

Her accent thickened the way it always did when she was upset. Her voice rose with it.

Mrs. Whitmore’s expression dropped.

“Lower your voice. This isn’t one of your pack gatherings.”

“Every guest here is from elite families. Are you trying to turn this into a spectacle?”

Murmurs rippled around us.

“No class. Backwoods people.”

My mother’s face went scarlet.

She’d only been trying to defend me. Now she stood there, fingers twisting, voice shrinking.

“I’m not causing trouble.”

“I just hurt for my daughter.”

My nose stung.

She’d done nothing wrong. And still she was apologizing to the people humiliating her.

Aldric cut in, impatient.

“Today’s ceremony goes to Bianca. Next month I’ll come to your pack and we’ll do it there.”

“All your people can attend then. That’s already more than generous.”

My father slowly lifted his head.

“A million-dollar ceremony for her.”

“And for my daughter? A quick rite at our pack’s old altar and a bonfire party?”

Aldric’s jaw tightened.

“I said I’d make it up. What else do you want?”

Bianca lifted her gown and walked over. She took my mother’s arm with practiced warmth.

“Mrs. Hart. What does it matter where the ceremony is? The important thing is the elders will recognize Iris and Aldric. That’s the real commitment.”